Car parking enforcement will be privatised and Eastgate and Kings Walk switched to pay and display under council proposals to save £140,000 a year.

Gloucester City Council wants to scrap the last two remaining pay on foot systems in the city and spend £40,000 on eight new machines.

It said the run-down machines often break meaning it has to fork out extra money for repairs.

In contrast it said the switch would see running cost savings of £70,000 in the first year and £115,000 from year two.

It also wants to cut costs by £26,000 a year by handing enforcement of car parks fully over to an outside company.

It means the council will no longer have control over the number of tickets handed out or resolution of disputes.

The council is responsible for 14 car parks across the city, providing approximately 1,905 spaces.

They are Castlemeads, Eastgate CP, GL1, Great Western Rd, Hampden Way, Hare Lane North, Hare Lane South, Kings Walk, Laybellgate, Longsmiths St, North WH, Southgate Moorings, St Michaels Square, Station Rd and Westgate St.

It currently pays £140,000 for car parking enforcement in the city and makes £114,000 from fines, leaving it £26,000 out of pocket.

It is now looking at procuring a "cost neutral contract", whereby an enforcement company does not charge the council for its services but instead retains all the income from penalties.

The parking proposals have been drawn up as the contract with current provider Saba is due to expire at the end of August.

A report going to cabinet on Wednesday (March 12) said: "The pay on foot equipment in Eastgate and Kings Walk are over eight years old and reaching the end of their practical useful lives leading to several breakdowns in recent months potentially causing the council lost revenue.

"The council currently only has a first line maintenance contract for the ANPR machines, which in practice means that the council often has to pay additionally for call-outs to fix problems."

It said pay and display machines are already used in other council car parks and are "more reliable" with most issues fixed on site with less financial impact as customers can use other machines or pay by the MiPermit app.

The system will also allow council staff to change tariffs instantly with no admin cost for events such as free Christmas parking.

The report said pay on foot in arrears has "previously been considered preferred by shoppers" because they can stay as long as they like and pay at the end.

However, the MiPermit app allows customers to book their stay in advance and extend permits or season tickets.

"On balance, officers do not think that changing to Pay and Display would significantly affect dwell times and retailers," said the report.

It said the switch to a 'cost neutral' enforcement contract was recommended by The British Parking Association. The not-for-profit trade association is funded by its members who include manufacturers, suppliers, private car park operators, local authorities, health authorities, universities and colleges, airports, privately owned railway operating companies, shopping centres, bailiffs, debt collectors and consultants.

Gloucester City Council cabinet has been asked to:

• Approve the plans to procure and appoint an enforcement contractor.
• It is also due to approve plans to bring some parking services in-house the services but details have not been revealed in the report as they are confidential and commercially sensitive.
• It has been asked to note that Eastgate and Kings Walk will be changed to pay and display and app based payment.

Punchline-gloucester.com says: "We welcome the modernisation of these two prominent car parks. Most people prefer to pay by app now as it is quick and convenient.

"Whether the new enforcement regime will be good for Gloucester remains to be seen.

"It could help clear out problems in some car parks but it could also see harsher fines handed out, deterring tourists and visitors to the city.

"We will have to wait and see."